This paper provides a discussion of the role of school leaders in establishing democratic principles in a post-conflict society. Drawn primarily from the author's experiences in Kosovo, the paper briefly introduces the historical and contemporary socio-political context of the region, and then examines the role of school administrators in a…

When the National Commission on Excellence in Education published "A Nation at Risk" (1983) in response to the perception that the U.S. public education system was failing to help students succeed, it gave policymakers the catalyst to introduce legislative and regulatory reforms that were designed to increase student achievement. Through such…

The middle level years are an important period of transition for adolescents. Middle level students have giant hearts--they want to save the world, and they are learning how to reach outside of themselves to empathize and care about others. At Millburn Middle School in New Jersey, where the author is principal, staff members found a way to help…

This paper summarises the rationale, development, content, and delivery of a Post Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and Peace Preparedness in Sri Lanka, a country that has experienced a violent and protracted social conflict over the last 25 years. It also describes the methodology which is being used to measure the peace impact of the…

The success of a country's education system depends to a large extent on the mutual trust and co-operation existing between all partners. However, numerous documented incidents in the media have confirmed that there is a field of tension between school governing bodies of public schools in South Africa and the Department of Education, which is of…

Group work is a widely used learning approach in higher education where it is seen as encouraging the development of collaborative skills and attitudes while producing an assessable product. Group assignments can, however, create dilemmas and tensions for both staff and students. Students often seek academic intervention in the form of support and…

Increasing violence and threats of violence in American schools have prompted many school districts to take aggressive action in providing greater security and more positive learning environments. This book presents an alternative approach--that of training students in conflict resolution and peer mediation. The book offers specific, practical…

Violence is becoming the number one problem in United States schools. Approximately 20 percent of high school students regularly carry guns and other weapons. Several nonviolent measures are appropriate to reduce violence in schools; but only the implementation of multiple ideas and measures, not "quick fix" solutions, will curb…

This book is designed to help social studies educators better understand international conflict management as they learn about instructional methods and begin to teach. The book brings together current scholarship on major topics in the management of international conflict and methods for teaching that are especially important in globally-oriented…

This program profile presents a model for conflict resolution training and process that goes beyond school-based peer mediation programs. The program includes a formal process for resolving conflicts between parents, students, staff, school and community; a referral system of trained specialists; and resources which include workshops, curriculum,…

Students today face many more choices than ever before. Increased levels of family stress leave children with more opportunity to exercise independence, while also providing them with greater frustration. This paper profiles a program that aims to help children (elementary through high school; alternative, public, and private schools; children…

Conflict and violence on the part of adolescents and pre-adolescents has been a growing problem. Young people will respond to an "anti-gang message" if that message is delivered from their peer group. This manual describes a peer approach to impact young people about productive ways to handle conflict. Older students are trained to operate puppets…

This publication is a revision and restructuring of "Reducing School Violence," published in 1993. This revised edition benefits from the assistance of many of the original reviewers, as well as additional experts and practitioners. The key to school safety is a comprehensive approach. This guidebook was designed to help teachers, school…

This report describes a student leadership program, Putting the Environment Above the Common Ego (PEACE), designed to reduce incidences of eighth grade students forming self-segregating groups based on ethnic or racial heritage. The targeted groups form the diverse student body attending a middle school with 1,400 students in Rockford, Illinois.…

The "Discipline That Doesn't Hurt!" parent education curriculum has been taught by approximately 100 trained volunteers to nearly 3,000 parents over the past 4 years. Three different evaluation forms have been created and used, yet none of these instruments have shown whether parents who have completed the series are better able to analyze the…